Response Letter Premier John Horgan

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Reference:    240752 
S
usan Morrison 
Acting Chair, Islands Trust Council 
200-1627 Fort Street
Victoria, British Columbia
V8R 1H8
Dear Susan Morrison: 
Thank you for your letter of July 11, 2018, to Premier John Horgan, regarding the designation 
of the Islands Trust area for Rural Dividend Program and Island Coastal Economic Trust 
(ICET) funding. 
The Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development is the 
provincial government’s lead on rural development for British Columbia.  As the 
Assistant Deputy Minister of the Rural Development, Lands and Innovation Division (RDLI), 
I have been asked to respond to your letter.  
This ministry is committed to helping rural and Indigenous communities build their capacity 
to develop sustainable and resilient futures.  A key component of the ministry’s rural 
development mandate is the Rural Dividend Program, which is administered by RDLI.  The 
program provides $25 million a year to assist rural communities with a population of 25,000 
or less (located outside the Capital Regional District and Metro Vancouver) to reinvigorate 
and diversify their local economies.  
As you note in your letter, permanent exceptions to the eligibility criteria have been provided 
to the Salt Spring Island and Southern Gulf Island Electoral Areas.  An exception to the 
eligibility criteria was also provided to Bowen Island for the fifth intake, which took place 
June 1 – July 31, 2018.  I am excited to hear that the program received applications from 
Island Trust communities in the recent intake.  
As part of our commitment to continuous improvement we will be completing a review of the 
Rural Dividend Program to ensure it continues to meet the needs of rural stakeholders.  A 
further examination of a permanent exception for Bowen Island can be explored as part of this 
process.  I encourage you to monitor the program for updates.  
Please note that ICET falls within the mandate of the Ministry of Jobs, Trade and Technology 
(JTT). Ministry staff at JTT have advised me that they have begun engaging with ICET to 
explore a possible regulation change to include the CRD electoral areas of Juan de Fuca, 
Ministry of Forests, Lands, 
Natural Resource Operations 
and Rural Development 
Office of the Minister Mailing Address: 
PO BOX 9049 Stn Prov Govt 
Victoria, BC  V8W 9E2 
Tel: 250 387-6240 
Fax: 250 387-1040 
Website: www.gov.bc.ca/for 
August 9, 2018

Susan Morrison, Islands Trust Council 
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Salt Spring Island and Southern Gulf Islands in the ICET service area.  This process will 
involve extensive consultations with both ICET and other stakeholders in the region.  
Again, thank you for taking the time to express your views. 
Sincerely, 
Dave Peterson 
Assistant Deputy Minister 
Rural Development, Lands and Innovation  
Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development 
p
c: Honourable John Horgan, Premier of British Columbia

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